Barron of Blog » family http://mike.shannonandmike.net Wife, Kids, and the Pursuit of Happiness Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:01:58 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Post-Thanksgiving Walk http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/12/07/post-thanksgiving-walk/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/12/07/post-thanksgiving-walk/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:43:54 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=6654 Thanksgiving was great this year - all four of our parents were there, making it one of those wonderful moments in time that I fondly look back upon. After having a gigantic (and delicious) Thanksgiving meal the entire crew went on a walk. It was brisk but pleasant.

Here's Libby walking with her two "Papas" - love the long shadows:

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/12/07/post-thanksgiving-walk/feed/ 0 The Cousins http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/08/29/the-cousins-2/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/08/29/the-cousins-2/#comments Tue, 30 Aug 2011 02:17:59 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=6355 Annual picture of all the cousins:

Each year since 2007 we have taken the same picture with all the cousins. It's amazing to watch the group (and individuals) grow:
2011: Calvin, Micah, Asher, Sam, Emma, Kaia, Cooper, Libby 2010:Calvin, Micah, Asher, Sam, Emma, Kaia, Libby 2009: Calvin, Micah, Sam, Emma, Kaia, Libby 2008: Calvin, Micah, Sam, Emma, Libby 2007: Calvin, Micah, Sam, Emma, Libby

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/08/29/the-cousins-2/feed/ 0 East Coast Trip: Golfing http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/08/22/east-coast-trip-golfing/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/08/22/east-coast-trip-golfing/#comments Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:53:27 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=6321 We had our annual early morning Maine golf day (2010, 2009). It was foggy and fun:
It was very foggy for the first two hours of play Usually you can see the ocean and an island, but it was all fog Dan and Will practicing their swings Dan, Will, Jack, Tim, and Me

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/08/22/east-coast-trip-golfing/feed/ 0 East Coast Trip: Talking and Eating http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/08/16/east-coast-trip-talking-and-eating/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/08/16/east-coast-trip-talking-and-eating/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:43:04 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=6299 My favorite part of our Maine trips, by far, is the time we spend eating and talking. There is nothing better than sitting around with family and shooting the breeze while munching on goodies:
Breakfast time with bright sun through the windows Making s'mores on a grill (second time this trip!) Liby still loving the s'mores The kids get their own eating time since there are so many of them Night time chatting with everybody Relaxing in Will and Shelley's cabin after grilling out

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/08/16/east-coast-trip-talking-and-eating/feed/ 0 East Coast Trip: Coastal Exploring http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/08/15/east-coast-trip-coastal-exploring/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/08/15/east-coast-trip-coastal-exploring/#comments Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:24:17 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=6288 A lot of the fun to be found in Maine is along the shore. Tidal pools, piles of seaweed, big rocks, and lots a small sea creatures make for a great environment for adults and kids alike to explore:
Shannon and Libby next to a tidal pool A happy couple, on the rocks Gorgeous clear day with sunshine through the trees One of many baby crabs that we found among the rocks and seaweed Libby showing off her periwinkle collection Cooper, our Maine Man

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/08/15/east-coast-trip-coastal-exploring/feed/ 0 East Coast Trip: Debbie and Peter’s House http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/08/07/east-coast-trip-debbie-and-peters-house/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/08/07/east-coast-trip-debbie-and-peters-house/#comments Mon, 08 Aug 2011 01:56:56 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=6258 Every year we invade the welcoming home of Debbie and Peter. They are always such wonderful hosts, making sure everyone is well fed and entertained.
Welcome to House of Cooper - what can I get you? Libby discovered - and LOVED - climbing trees this vacation Making s'mores on the outdoor grill (they were great!)

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/08/07/east-coast-trip-debbie-and-peters-house/feed/ 0 What the Duck? http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/06/28/what-the-duck/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/06/28/what-the-duck/#comments Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:00:03 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=6119 Jeff and Amy (brother & sister-in-law) live near a canal in Indianapolis. While walking along the canal a few weeks ago a duck started following them. That duck ended up following them all the way home and has been at their house ever since!

The duck's name is "Duck-Duck" and he is very tame - probably someone's released Easter present - and rather plump. Libby LOVED visiting with "Duck-Duck" (and of course her cousins too):
"Duck-Duck" the duck Kaia, Libby, and Duck-Duck Amy holds Duck-Duck so the kids can feel his soft feathers

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/06/28/what-the-duck/feed/ 0 Road Trip! http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/06/05/road-trip/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/06/05/road-trip/#comments Sun, 05 Jun 2011 04:39:27 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=6062 Over the long Memorial Day weekend we packed up the kids and drove (yes, DROVE) to the east coast. We visited my sister in North Carolina and Shannon's brother in Virginia. Overall it was a very good trip.

Unfortunately we forgot our camera. More specifically, we remembered our camera but forgot the camera's SD card. Oh well. Here are a few pictures from the other cameras that were there:
Jackson, Libby, and Avery in a centipede floater Shannon and Cooper floating in the pool Libby all ready to jump into the pool

Obviously there was a pool at Shannon's brother's house, and we put it to very good use. Libby loves the water (though she still is not close to swimming on her own).

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/06/05/road-trip/feed/ 0 Cousins Horsey Ride http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/03/15/cousins-horsey-ride/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/03/15/cousins-horsey-ride/#comments Wed, 16 Mar 2011 03:22:03 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=5840 Libby's second 4th birthday party was at our house with most of my side of the family. Here are four of her cousins horsing around after dinner:

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/03/15/cousins-horsey-ride/feed/ 0 The Very Hungry Caterpillar http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/03/03/the-very-hungry-caterpillar/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/03/03/the-very-hungry-caterpillar/#comments Fri, 04 Mar 2011 03:41:31 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=5813 Libby, Shannon, and I had a great visit to the Purdue campus this past weekend to watch a performance of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" (and other Eric Carle stories). We went with my parents and Libby's cousin Kaia. The three plays were pretty neat - they were all done in the dark with black lights:

One of the highlights to any Purdue visit is the underground network of tunnels - they make for great echoing. Here's a cell phone shot of the girls shouting down one of the longer stretches:

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/03/03/the-very-hungry-caterpillar/feed/ 0 Cooper’s Baptism http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/02/28/coopers-baptism/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/02/28/coopers-baptism/#comments Tue, 01 Mar 2011 04:33:06 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=5794 A shot from Cooper's baptism:

You can see his god-parents Dan (my brother) and Lauren (our good friend) in the background. I love Libby's head peeking out from below as well :)

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/02/28/coopers-baptism/feed/ 0 Cooking in the Kitchen http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/02/02/cooking-in-the-kitchen/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/02/02/cooking-in-the-kitchen/#comments Thu, 03 Feb 2011 04:20:18 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=5719 We are currently snowed-in*, so what else to do but bake some chocolate chip cookies!
Stirring up the ingredients Tasting the dough Laying out the cookies (and tasting more dough)
* I guess technically we are "iced"-in, as our garage door is covered in a sheet of ice that prevents it from opening.

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/02/02/cooking-in-the-kitchen/feed/ 0 Christmas Eve http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/01/02/christmas-eve/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/01/02/christmas-eve/#comments Mon, 03 Jan 2011 04:16:07 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=5594 Shannon, Libby, and Susan - all nestled in for a long winter's nap - on Christmas Eve in their matching flannel nightgowns:

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2011/01/02/christmas-eve/feed/ 0 Dad, Me, and the Kids http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/11/29/dad-me-and-the-kids/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/11/29/dad-me-and-the-kids/#comments Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:00:09 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=5472 Me, Cooper, my father, and Libby on Thanksgiving Day:

]]> http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/11/29/dad-me-and-the-kids/feed/ 0 Happy Anniversary! http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/10/11/happy-anniversary-3/ http://mike.shannonandmike.net/2010/10/11/happy-anniversary-3/#comments Mon, 11 Oct 2010 04:01:15 +0000 Mike B. http://mike.shannonandmike.net/?p=5285 Happy anniversary, Shannon!

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